Why Paul Saladino, MD Quit A 100% Carnivore Diet, Impacts of Cholesterol, And the Value of Insulin

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Nutrition

Autoimmune conditions

Mental health

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Dr. Paul Saladino's Journey to Becoming the Carnivore MD

Dr. Paul Saladino is a certified physician nutritional specialist and an advocate of the carnivore diet.
He realized that Western medicine often fails to address the root causes of chronic illness, leading him to explore the potential of nutrition.
Dr. Saladino initially adhered strictly to a meat-only diet but later adjusted his approach to include moderate intake of carbohydrates from fruits.
He credits the carnivore diet with curing his autoimmune conditions and improving his overall health.
Dr. Saladino's views have evolved over time, highlighting the impact of flexibility and individualized approaches to diet.

Personal Health Journey and Exploration of Different Diets

Grew up with average health issues like eczema, asthma, and allergies.
Overmedicated as a child with medications for asthma.
Started exploring diet and health during PA (physician assistant) days.
Tried a raw vegan diet for 7 months but experienced weight loss and severe GI symptoms.
Realized the importance of incorporating meat into diet due to human biology and DNA.
Adopted a paleo diet for about 10-12 years but still struggled with eczema and asthma.
Experienced recurrent eczema during medical school and had skin infections from Jiu-Jitsu.
Tried various diets and supplements but found little improvement.
Finally found relief during residency at the University of Washington through dietary changes.

The Impact of a Meat-Based Diet on Autoimmune Conditions

Jordan Peterson's experience with a meat-based diet improving autoimmune conditions.
The immune system's role in chronic diseases and autoimmune conditions.
The gut as Ground Zero for immune system programming.
Western medicine's approach of dividing illnesses into numerous categories.
The value of personal stories and experiences in understanding human health.
The experiment of eliminating all plants and consuming only meat, organs, salt, and animal fat.
Long-term ketosis leading to electrolyte imbalances and other health issues.
The role of insulin in kidney function and electrolyte balance.
The transition from a strict carnivore diet to incorporating clean carbohydrates from berries, honey, and maple.

Exploring the Carnivore Diet and the Role of Plants in Human Nutrition

The speaker is intrigued by the carnivore diet and its potential for healing various health conditions that Western medicine deems incurable.
They discuss the collective consciousness surrounding the carnivore diet and how it challenges the notion that meat is unhealthy.
The speaker acknowledges the need for mental flexibility in considering different dietary approaches, even if they contradict their previous beliefs.
They add back fruits to their diet, considering the evolutionary design of fruit as a signal for animals to eat and spread the plant's seeds.
The speaker highlights that fruit contains fewer defense chemicals compared to other plant parts, suggesting a potential sensitivity to these chemicals in some individuals.
They question common assumptions about nutrition, including the demonization of meat and the belief that vegetables are universally beneficial.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of individual thriving and the need to question established beliefs when experiencing health issues.
They reference medical literature and observations of hunter-gatherer tribes to inform their perspective on human nutrition.
The discussion touches on the exclusion of processed foods from the diet as well.

The Hierarchy of Value in Animal and Plant Foods

Hunter-gatherers prefer meat and organs as their favorite foods.
Meat and organs are considered the center of every human diet.
Singapore has one of the longest average life expectancies and has a high consumption of meat.
The consumption of meat is conveniently left out of conversations about Blue Zones.
Centenarians often have clinically elevated levels of LDL cholesterol when they die.
There are multiple studies showing that people who live long have elevated levels of cholesterol.
The preferred foods of hunter-gatherers are meat, berries, honey, and tubers.
Vegetables are not a favorite food among hunter-gatherers.
Limiting or cutting out vegetable plant foods can be helpful for people with unresolved health issues.
Anecdotes and human experience play a valuable role in understanding the impact of different diets.

The Power of Nutrition in Treating Mental Illness

There is evidence to suggest that a ketogenic diet can have positive effects on mental health conditions such as severe forms of schizophrenia.
Treating drug-resistant mental illnesses with nutrition is becoming an increasingly recognized approach.
The human body has the ability to heal itself, and nutrition plays a significant role in this process.
Mainstream psychiatry is facing criticism, with some describing it as a "dumpster fire."
It is important to consider alternative approaches to mental health treatment, such as incorporating nutrition into therapy.

The Broken Medical System and the Disconnect Between Psychiatry and Diet

The medical system is broken, particularly in the area of psychiatry and diet.
There is a lack of connection between treating mental illness and considering dietary changes.
Neuroinflammation is the root cause of most psychiatric illnesses.
Macrophages in the brain called micral cells become inflamed and reactive against our bodies, leading to psychiatric issues.
Diet plays a crucial role in psychiatric treatment, but it is often overlooked in medical practice.
Medical institutions like the University of Washington do not prioritize dietary interventions in psychiatric care.
Similar disconnects between diet and autoimmune conditions, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, exist.
Gastron neurologists often dismiss the connection between diet and conditions like Crohn's and colitis.
Oncology treatment centers do not provide dietary recommendations during cancer treatment.
There is a focus on gaining weight during cancer treatment, with no regard for diet quality.
The speaker had a bad experience with the keto diet but acknowledges its potential for treating mental illness.

Understanding the Difference Between Natural Fruit Sugars and Processed Sugars

Over a thousand components in honey, with 300 still unidentified.
Fruits contain over 5,000 components.
Sugar in our diet from natural sources like honey, maple syrup, and fruit is different from processed sugars.
Processed sugars, like high fructose corn syrup, can cause inflammation and contribute to endotoxemia.
Fructose found in fruit is demonized, but it also provides beneficial information that prevents bacterial overgrowth in the gut.
High fructose corn syrup is made from processed corn and contains trace amounts of toxins like mercury.
Some products labeled as natural fruit flavors may actually contain high fructose corn syrup with no real fruit content.
Studies that vilify sugar are often done with isolated and highly processed sugar molecules, not whole foods.
Fruit and fruit juice should not be the sole components of a diet, but they should not be feared either.
The problem lies in stripping away the natural information associated with fruits, not the fruits themselves.

The Problems with Seed Oils and Misconceptions about Cholesterol

Seed oils are industrial byproducts of seeds such as sunflower, rape, and soybean, which have been processed and distilled to create concentrated oils.
Industrial processed seed oils often contain additives like hexane and sodium hydroxide, and are heated to high temperatures, resulting in rancidity and potential health problems.
Canola oil, which is derived from rape seeds, is genetically modified to have low levels of arusc acid, a fat associated with heart lesions.
Canola oil still contains some arusc acid, and consuming it in excess can lead to oxidative stress and elevated levels of linolic acid.
Canola oil is widely consumed and promoted as a healthy option, but it is not a traditional human food and has potential health risks.
Cholesterol is not a fuel source but a construction material in the body, used for hormone production, cell walls, and vitamin D3 synthesis.
Clinically elevated levels of LDL cholesterol have been observed in centenarians and are necessary for various bodily functions.

The Relationship Between Apob and Atherosclerosis in the Context of Metabolic Dysfunction

Eating a diet high in saturated fats and low in seed oils can lead to an increase in LDL apob-containing lipoproteins.
Western medicine often prescribes statins in response to elevated apob levels, assuming a direct relationship between apob and atherosclerosis progression.
However, there are instances when this relationship does not hold true, particularly in individuals without metabolic dysfunction.
Studies suggest that a large percentage (88-93%) of westernized Americans have some form of metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance.
In individuals with metabolic dysfunction, there is a clear and intense relationship between apob and atherosclerosis progression.
However, in metabolically healthy individuals, the relationship between apob and atherosclerosis is minimal, suggesting other factors at play.
The causal role of apob in damaging the endothelium is questioned when considering examples of centenarians with high apob levels who do not die from atherosclerosis.

Misconceptions about APOB and its role in atherosclerosis

Arteries and veins have the same amount of APOB, but arteries are a higher pressure system and more prone to endothelial damage.
APOB is not the sole cause of atherosclerosis; damage to the endothelium is necessary for the disease to begin.
Factors such as oxidation, poor repair, insulin resistance, and toxins can damage the endothelium.
APOB's involvement in atherosclerosis is dependent on the presence of endothelial damage.
Metabolic dysfunction and diabetes can lead to constant endothelial damage, making APOB appear more significant than it actually is.
APOB is not the primary initiator of atherosclerosis, but rather a component of the process.
APOB is often blamed without considering other factors such as endothelial dysfunction and oxidation.
The American Heart Association recommends canola oil and limiting saturated fat based on APOB levels, despite other risk factors like oxidized LDL and LP little a being ignored.

The Dangers of Seed Oils and Linoleic Acid

Research shows that trans fat was mistakenly believed to be safe until the last few decades.
Some studies and meta-analyses that claim seed oils are benign are based on flawed research.
Trials such as the Minnesota coronary study, Sydney diet heart, and rose corn oil study found that seed oils are worse than saturated fats for cardiovascular health.
Seed oils contain high levels of linoleic acid, which can accumulate in the body and cause health problems.
Americans consume an average of five to six tablespoons of seed oils per day, which is an unnatural amount of linoleic acid.
Linoleic acid is found in nuts in small amounts historically, but the concentrated levels in seed oils are not natural for human consumption.
The linoleic acid in fat cells, not in the plasma, is reflective of consumption and is linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease.
Cumulative toxicity is a concern with linoleic acid, as it accumulates in the body over time.

Avoiding High Amounts of Linoleic Acid in Your Diet

Linoleic acid in high amounts can be detrimental to health as it contributes to inflammatory pathways.
Sources of linoleic acid include meats, organ meats, vegetable oils, nuts, fish, chicken, avocados, tallow, and butter.
Nuts can contain higher percentages of linoleic acid, but consuming small amounts is unlikely to be problematic.
Seed oils such as corn, canola, sunflower, safflower, soybean, grape seed, and peanut oils are concentrated sources of linoleic acid.
Peanut butter and almond butter can contain significant amounts of linoleic acid, especially if the oil separates on top and becomes oxidized.
Flaxseed oil is also high in linoleic acid and is highly oxidized.
It is important to be cautious when consuming fish oil, ensuring that it is from a reputable brand and not exposed to air for extended periods.

The Impact of Dietary Fats on Human Health

Monogastric animals, such as pigs and chickens, accumulate polyunsaturated fats, like linoleic acid, in their fat tissue.
Fatty chicken eggs or pork from animals fed corn and soy have higher levels of linoleic acid compared to wild animals.
The amount of linoleic acid in one's diet is an important metric for human health.
Sampling linoleic acid levels in adipose tissue or blood can be a useful method for assessing cardiovascular disease risk.
Poorly conducted studies and misunderstandings about linoleic acid metabolism have caused confusion in this field.
Historically, Americans primarily consumed animal fats and had lower rates of cardiovascular disease.
An increase in cardiovascular disease rates coincided with the promotion of polyunsaturated fats by organizations like the American Heart Association.
The belief that fat makes you fat is still prevalent, but sugar and insulin resistance are significant contributors to obesity.
Understanding the impact of different types of dietary fats is essential for maintaining overall health and preventing cardiovascular disease.

Challenges in the Adoption of Dietary and Lifestyle Changes in the Medical Community

Long-term consumption of linoleic acid at a cellular level may lead to chronic toxicity and insulin resistance.
Challenges in conducting long-term studies on the effects of seed oils and insulin sensitivity exist.
Accumulation of linoleic acid in cell membranes may disrupt energy systems and contribute to insulin resistance.
The medical community faces challenges in adopting dietary and lifestyle changes as major factors in chronic disease prevention and management.
Despite rising chronic disease rates and mortality rates, conventional education may limit the emphasis on lifestyle changes in medical practice.
The difficulty of undoing existing knowledge and beliefs may contribute to the slow adoption of dietary and lifestyle changes.
Brandolini's law states that it is 10.2 times harder to undo established knowledge than to acquire new knowledge.
The medical community may be hindered by the effort required to change established practices and beliefs.
The influence of early education and indoctrination in medical school may contribute to resistance to new ideas and approaches.

Questioning Medical Education and the Need for Lateral Shifts in Nutrition

Half of what is learned in medical school is said to be wrong.
Speaking out against the medical system can result in being discredited and labeled as a quack.
Physicians often hold on to beliefs and are resistant to changing their minds.
Many physicians believe in certain ideas or treatments as part of their professional "tribe".
Un-brainwashing people and changing their beliefs can be extremely difficult.
The goal should be to educate the masses and make small, achievable changes in their nutrition.
Lateral shifts, where the nutritional profile of a meal is improved without drastically changing the taste, can be a helpful starting point.
Progression is more important than perfection when it comes to making positive changes in nutrition.
Knowledge is power and can make navigating food choices easier.

Importance of Nutritious Food Choices and Introduction to Harden Soil Products

It is possible to make nutritious food choices even when you're away from home.
Focus on whole grass-fed meats, organ meats, berries, and honey.
You don't have to constantly read labels; just aim to do better than your current food choices.
Start by minimizing the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Prioritize whole plant foods and whole animal foods, including organs.
Some people may find it challenging to enjoy organ meats at first, but it can be an acquired taste.
Harden Soil offers desiccated organ supplements in capsule form, making it easier to consume organs.
Capsules can be emptied into smoothies for children who may resist eating organ meats directly.
Harden Soil also provides beef sticks with liver and heart, sourced from beautiful farms in Australia.

Discussing the Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef and Perfect Amino Supplement

Grass-fed beef from Australia offers million-dollar real estate with cows grazing on green pastures.
Grass-fed beef is a high-quality protein source with essential amino acids.
Perfect Amino by Body Health is a 99% absorbable amino acid supplement.
Perfect Amino helps build lean muscle, recover from intense exercise, and improve exercise performance.
It has only 2 calories and virtually no caloric intake, making it suitable for fasting.
Perfect Amino is available in capsules or powder with natural flavoring and no artificial sweeteners.
Body Health offers lab-tested products with transparent absorption rates.
Air-dried beef jerky, like Chomps, is cooked and contains lactic acid and sodium nitrate.
The discussed beef jerky is air-dried for 5 days at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, maintaining its nutritional value.
Building a sustainable and quality-focused brand is a rewarding experience.
Honesty and integrity are crucial when creating products for loyal fans.

Passion for Creating Content to Navigate the Health Space Confusion

Building a chemical-free living brand with a focus on quality products.
Creating content and ideas to help people navigate the confusing health space.
Advocating for respectful discussions on different views in the health industry.
Wanting to provide truthful and consistent information to help people.
Recognizing the challenges of interpreting conflicting research and data.
Highlighting conflicts of interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Conflicts of Interest in the United States Food Guidelines Committee

95% of people on the committee responsible for making food guidelines in the United States have conflicts of interest.
This is expected to continue with the upcoming 2025 to 2030 guidelines.
The chairperson of the 2025 to 2030 guidelines committee is the same person who authored a study claiming Frosted Mini Wheats were healthier than beef and eggs.
The chairperson also wrote a meta-analysis on seed oils that included studies confounded by trans fat in the control group.
The chairperson receives funding from Bungie, a seed oil company, and ILC, a conglomerate of ultra-processed food companies.
The chairperson's name is Darius Mozafarian and he is affiliated with TFTS.
These conflicts of interest can shape school lunches, policies, and other aspects of food consumption.
People who have raised concerns about these conflicts of interest have faced backlash from the chairperson.

The importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle.

People want to be able to play with their grandkids or kids.
The concept of "Birthright" suggests that humans have the inherent right to be healthy and capable.
Western medical doctors often prescribe medication rather than addressing the root cause of health issues.

Dr. Paul Saladino and the Potential of the Carnivore Diet

Dr. Saladino's journey from Western medicine to exploring nutrition as a solution for chronic illness.
Adoption of a meat-only diet, later adjusted to include moderate carbohydrate intake from fruits.
Personal success story with the carnivore diet improving autoimmune conditions and overall health.
Evolution of Dr. Saladino's views, emphasizing flexibility and individualized approaches to diet.
Impact of diet on Dr. Saladino's childhood health issues and his exploration of different diets.
Importance of personal stories and experiences in understanding human health.
Experiment of eliminating all plants and consuming only meat, organs, salt, and animal fat.
Transition to incorporating clean carbohydrates from berries, honey, and maple.
Challenging the collective consciousness surrounding the carnivore diet and reevaluating assumptions about meat and vegetables.
Importance of individual thriving and questioning established beliefs for improved health.
Reference to medical literature and observations of hunter-gatherer tribes in informing dietary perspectives.
Discussion on excluding processed foods from the diet.
Hunter-gatherer preference for meat, organs, berries, honey, and tubers over vegetables.
Link between ketogenic diet and positive effects on mental health conditions.
Recognition of the role of nutrition in treating drug-resistant mental illnesses.
Criticism of mainstream psychiatry and the need to consider alternative approaches to mental health treatment, including nutrition.

Disconnect Between Medical System and Dietary Interventions in Psychiatry, Autoimmune Conditions, and Oncology Treatment Centers

Lack of connection between treating mental illness and considering dietary changes.
Neuroinflammation is the root cause of most psychiatric illnesses.
Diet is often overlooked in psychiatric care, as well as in autoimmune conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases.
Gastron neurologists dismiss the connection between diet and conditions like Crohn's and colitis.
Oncology treatment centers do not provide dietary recommendations during cancer treatment.
Focus on gaining weight during cancer treatment without regard for diet quality.
Keto diet has potential for treating mental illness despite one bad experience.
Over a thousand components in honey, with 300 still unidentified.
Fruits contain over 5,000 components.
Processed sugars like high fructose corn syrup can cause inflammation and contribute to endotoxemia.
Fructose in fruit provides beneficial information that prevents bacterial overgrowth in the gut.
High fructose corn syrup contains trace amounts of toxins like mercury.
Some products labeled as natural fruit flavors may contain high fructose corn syrup with no real fruit content.
Studies vilifying sugar often use isolated and highly processed sugar molecules, not whole foods.
Fruit and fruit juice should not be the sole components of a diet, but they should not be feared either.
Seed oils are industrial byproducts that can have health risks.
Canola oil, widely consumed and promoted as healthy, can lead to oxidative stress and elevated levels of linolic acid.
Cholesterol is not a fuel source but a construction material in the body.

The Impact of Seed Oils and Linoleic Acid on Health

Trans fat was mistakenly believed to be safe until recent decades.
Some studies claiming seed oils are benign are based on flawed research.
Seed oils are worse than saturated fats for cardiovascular health.
Seed oils contain high levels of linoleic acid, which can accumulate in the body and cause health problems.
Americans consume an unnatural amount of linoleic acid through seed oil consumption.
Linoleic acid in fat cells, not in the plasma, is linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease.
Cumulative toxicity is a concern with linoleic acid as it accumulates in the body.
Linoleic acid in high amounts contributes to inflammatory pathways.
Sources of linoleic acid include meats, organ meats, vegetable oils, nuts, fish, chicken, avocados, tallow, and butter.
Nuts contain small amounts of linoleic acid and are unlikely to be problematic in small quantities.
Seed oils such as corn, canola, sunflower, safflower, soybean, grape seed, and peanut oils are concentrated sources of linoleic acid.
Peanut butter and almond butter can contain significant amounts of linoleic acid.
Flaxseed oil is high in linoleic acid and is highly oxidized.
Caution should be exercised when consuming fish oil to ensure it is from a reputable brand and not exposed to air for extended periods.
Monogastric animals accumulate polyunsaturated fats, like linoleic acid, in their fat tissue.

Making Nutritious Food Choices and Addressing Conflicts of Interest in the Health Industry.

Focus on whole grass-fed meats, organ meats, berries, and honey for nutritious food choices.
Minimize consumption of ultra-processed foods and prioritize whole plant and animal foods.
Harden Soil offers desiccated organ supplements and beef sticks with liver and heart.
Grass-fed beef from Australia is a high-quality protein source with essential amino acids.
Perfect Amino by Body Health is an absorbable amino acid supplement for muscle building and exercise performance.
Chomps offers air-dried beef jerky with maintained nutritional value.
Building a sustainable and quality-focused brand with honesty and integrity.
Creating content and ideas to help navigate the health space and provide truthful information.
Advocating for respectful discussions on different views in the health industry.
Highlighting conflicts of interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
95% of people on the committee responsible for US food guidelines have conflicts of interest.